The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-10-07
a rAssR !, /. STORY 70
ofthe outbrenls OF tho ohoiorn On On Isoar,i

,.LQNTli gIT lsEII. 5l5EliFd d 1sf.
or tho outbreak OF tho otiofsr,, on Isoar,t |
tho Alesia Steamship. n l5-
Nrw YoGK, OCT. 8.-The Rev. DR.. May.
nstd, the lecturer, was one Of the passen.
gers on tile plague-s!ricken steamer Alesia,
which arrived here couple Of weeks ago.
He was seen by reporter yesterday and
told the following story Of tho cad yoyage:
I do not know the exact number OF emf.
grants who were taken on board at Naples,
but itmuat have been about sixty. Among
them waA q party Of forty from Palermo,
a plague-Btricken city. None Of the few
cabin passengers were, OF course, aware
Of the occurrence at the time, aud yet
circumstance. which occurred before we
started aroused In my mind an underlined
suspicion that everything WAS not all
right Tho day before we left the steam.
ship people gave a reception on board the
Aleaia 10 the Neapolitan municipal au.
thofltiea, who attended in grand state.
It WAS quite q delightful occasion, and !
am convinced now that II Was intended to
molliiy tho authorities on account Of the
company's action In taking the Palermo
passengers. During the earlier part OF
the passage all the circumstances seemed
to conspire to produce pleasure to all on
board. For q couple OF days q Borocco
came across the Mediterranean from
Africa but did not make the temperature
unbea1ably hot. We were .}1%#
a GAY COMPANY,
The Italian emigrants particularly so. The
discomlorts attending an emigrant voyage
seemed 10 have no effect upon their spir.
its. They chatted and laughed and sang
aud danced way long and well into the
night, which was mado more pleasant by
moonlight. Among tho emiprants were
many Of the better class OF Italians, and
their really beautiful singing added greatly
70 tho charm Of the delightful evenings.
We were about twelve days out when the
plague broke out. A young Nsapolitan
died, It was given out that heart disease
was the cause, and there was at the time
no ground Tor supposing otherwise; and
yet, In come unaccountable way all on
board ship became seized with miegiv.
ing. Nothing on the part Of the Captain,
who was a particularly jolly fellow, or
tho doctor or other officers indicated that
the Neapolitan's death was ou. Of the or.
binary run Of such misfartunes, yet 1t
caused o sudden fear to fall upon the emf.
grants, the like OF which I have never be-.
lore, In very long and varied experience
Of travel, met with. From that time ;
NOT a SOUND OF MIRrn WAS HEARD.
The dancing vas ended. Not a note was
sung. The funeral Of the Neapolitan was
6 sad and impressive sight, and II it was
possible it increased general detection. I
have no doubt that the condition of mind
OF these people had o good deal to do
with the owift head Say which the disease
made after 1t began ita work. l never saw
such o complete surrender to misfortune
as these people made, and 1t presented all
the more startling appearance on account
OF the light heartedness which they had
at first displayed. They seemed as limp
as rags. They made no struggle with fate,
but eat or moved about lstleeBly and life
lessly aud seemed actually to invite death
by their dread OF it. I cannot give any
particulars regarding the progress OF the
disease or the number OF tho victims.
Strange to Say the disoaBa frat struck the
Neapolitens, and tho proportion OF the
stricken among them was greater than
among those from Palermo, who imported
the disease. The discipline on board was
perfect and the doctor and his assistants
we're untiring in their efforts. The captain
maintained his jollity OF demeanor
throughout the entire trial In manner
which | now conisss was inspiring. There
weIa no more funerals after the frat. Con.
caalment OF the true e.ste OF affairs lasted
but a short time and the victims were
given to the deep one after the other. i
bsltsve that no one really knows how
many died on board. Every day brought
its fstalitIea." X -